Les Maisons de Lea, a member of Radisson Individuals

You can’t beat the location right in front of the cathedral, and the room was pretty cheap, which some people may like, especially if they don’t have a sense of smell. The outside of the hotel is charming, but inside it felt shabby, with fussy decor, junky furniture and worn carpets. A strong air freshener smell filled every area, including the room. Even with the windows open all day, it lingered, and it suggested damp or a lack of cleanliness. Staff didn’t seem interested and said they liked the smell. They offered us another room, but they all smelled the same. It’s a shame, because the interior would need a lot of money spent on it to match the outside.

We were welcomed so warmly by everyone when we arrived, and check-in was quick and easy. They even parked our car in a secured parking zone. The hotel is right in the middle of town, opposite the beautiful wooden church. Our room was stunning and historic, with lovely attention to detail and a beautifully renovated shower and bathroom. Dogs are allowed, too. Food and drinks are available 24/7, and breakfast was delicious with lots of variety and local food. They brought gluten free bread straight to our table for someone with celiac disease. We’d come back to this beautiful hotel anytime!

Naomi at reception was welcoming and helpful, and even carried my heavy bags up the stairs. The rooms were comfortable, though for a hotel of this standard the carpets need replacing and the bathroom needs more room for toiletries. We were eight people in four cars, and had emailed a couple of times about parking without getting a reply. Calls during the drive went unanswered, too. On arrival we were told the emails hadn’t come through and the car park was full. Check-in was chaotic because it was busy, and there was very little space to drop people off outside. Dinner was good, but service was a mess. We’d booked the meal with our stay, yet waited an hour before anyone took our order. There was a function in another room and the hotel seemed short staffed, with only two people serving the dining room. The man on duty stayed polite, professional and apologetic, but the waitress was rude and didn’t seem professional. She may have been stressed by the staffing shortage, but could use more training in dealing with guests. We sat down at 8.00pm and didn’t get our mains until 10.00pm. We’ve visited Honfleur many times and picked the hotel because it looks so appealing outside. We were disappointed that it didn’t meet expectations for a 4* Radisson. On this trip we crossed Holland, Belgium and France, staying at several lovely places of a similar rating. This was by far the most expensive and wasn’t worth the money.

We couldn’t get to sleep until after the walking tours finished outside the hotel at 10:30 and people applauded. Then the rubbish collection woke us at 5:40, with what sounded like about 500 glass bottles being emptied. The room was so hot we had two fans running and the windows open, even though it wasn’t that hot outside. With the windows open, we heard everything outside all night. The room itself was in a shocking state. Half the electrics didn’t work, nor did the telephone we needed to report it, and the sinks wouldn’t drain while brushing our teeth. We couldn’t check in until 4:30, and service was mediocre at best. Staff brushed off our feedback with “it’s an old hotel.” I know historic buildings have charm, and I’m fine paying extra for a great location, but the price here was extortionate for the condition of the rooms. I don’t understand how it merits four stars beyond the price. Wouldn’t recommend it.